Cruising at 85 mph: Texas Opens Fastest Highway in U.S.

I think we're not ready for this. Rather than focusing on how fast someone is driving, we should focus on HOW someone is driving. Tickets should be issued for signaling, passing in the proper lanes, distracted driving, etc. If can create a nation of technical drviers, then how fast he or she drives should not be an issue. This is similar to the Autobahn and other quick European roads. There are severe consequences for not following the rules of the road and much less emphasis on how fast one drives.

10:55 am October 25, 2012

Hayek wrote :

@Too soo...

Very true, and I'd also add more strict requirements regarding the condition of tires, brakes, wipers, body panel integrity.

Undermaintained vehicles is a bigger problem IMO rather than speed.

11:53 am October 25, 2012

Tim wrote :

Driving the 41 miles at 85 instead of 70 will save you just under 6 minutes. Depending on the the car, the MPG will drop about around 5-6 MPG. Is it really worth it?

12:10 pm October 25, 2012

Highdesertcat wrote :

This really is no big deal. I often drive in Texas on I-10 and other major arteries and the traffic flows at speeds exceeding 85mph, just trying to stay ahead of the 18-wheelers.

Even in New Mexico where I live and the speed limit is 75mph, the vast majority of traffic cruises at 10-over just to keep from getting run over by 18-wheelers.

What is different here is that they now charge you $7 each way. And that is not such a good deal.

I am sure that the cops will now be out in full force to mine the toll-free roads for as many speeding citations as they can write. So that will be a major change. Where there was no law enforcement before this road opened, it will now be crawling with cops eager to write you a ticket and collect your fine to round out their annual budgets.

12:23 pm October 25, 2012

Augustine wrote :

Texas is a big state and 85MPH is still too slow. If anything, that's still lower than the typical speed limit in Europe. 100MPH would be a better suited speed limit in Texas. For instance, a lot of people go from Houston to Austin or Dallas or San Antonio rather frequently, including myself. These trips take roughly 3h or more. At 100MPH, the travel time would be about 1h less and less tired drivers is safer.

12:26 pm October 25, 2012

Gussy2000 wrote :

People drive this fast already. Outside of a nice sports sedan, it doesn't feel safe in most cars go 90 or more so I doubt you will see people going much beyond 85 MPH. At that speed you are doing 1.42 miles every minute which means it would only take 29 minutes to drive the 41 mile stretch.

The bigger concern here is that fuel effeciency drops off appox. 2% for every 5 MPH over 60 MPH a vehicle goes (with the exception of EVs). ABS, traction control, better tires and better breaking tech makes driving faster less risky (you can NOT elimintate risk). However, distrcated driving is on the rise. Over 70 MPH, you collide with ANYTHING, you are DEAD. Period.

12:35 pm October 25, 2012

Randy Ditka wrote :

There goes your gas mileage and the highway Patrol is going to have fun with there lidar speed guns.

1:31 pm October 25, 2012

texas driver wrote :

If you are a texan and you drive these highways you already know that people travel at these speeds already, only difference is that it is legal now. If you are one to complain, you are most likely like more than 50% of all drivers out there that ride their brakes when they have absolutly no one in front of them, or jump to a faster lane to go the exact same speed as the car you are supposed to be passing. LMAO. You people that are complaining about this change should just stay off these roads, or ride your bicycle instead!

6:14 pm October 25, 2012

John wrote :

Hell, I always thought the speed limit on I 20 from Dallas to Mansfield was 85. That's what everyone does and it works.

7:43 pm October 25, 2012

Anon wrote :

Living in Canada where your lucky to go over 55 mph , going 85 mph would feel like the speed of light

7:59 pm October 25, 2012

R Bill wrote :

From what I can tell this road does not go from Austin to San Antonio. Taking this 85 Mph route might even be slower?

11:47 pm October 25, 2012

Henry wrote :

Contrary to popular perception and common folklore, people are going to drive at or under the 85 mph speed limit. In the northern section of the road, people are not really driving the posted 80 mph.

Studies have repeatedly proven no correlation between speed, speed limits and highway fatalities. Deaths in 80 mph sections of Texas highways dropped 29 percent versus 21 percent for the rest of the state. So much for the grease that lower speed limits somehow save lives.

12:52 am October 26, 2012

Anibal Guzman wrote :

Speed limit of 55mph was originally implemented because it's proved to be the ideal speed that allows the fastest travel to lowest fuel consumption, an 85mph speed limit although maybe safe on straight open highways like this texas one; traveling at this speed wind resistance increases exponentially, making this a step backwards in what our effort should be to decrease our dependence on foreign oil.

10:07 am October 26, 2012

Rothbard wrote :

@Augustine wrote :
.Texas is a big state and 85MPH is still too slow. If anything, that’s still lower than the typical speed limit in Europe. 100MPH would be a better suited speed limit in Texas. For instance, a lot of people go from Houston to Austin or Dallas or San Antonio rather frequently, including myself. These trips take roughly 3h or more. At 100MPH, the travel time would be about 1h less and less tired drivers is safer"

Hmmm..I'm going to agree to disagree. Cruising at 100 mph is more taxing mentally than at 80 mph. You really have to look ahead and if there's no lane discipline (Left lane laggards) its unnerving. Two instead of three land highways make it even worse.

9:50 pm October 26, 2012

sino wrote :

Once these speeds are reached, then high speed rail make much more sense in regards to safety and economy.

2:57 pm June 17, 2013

NMK wrote :

@Augustine wrote :
.Texas is a big state and 85MPH is still too slow. If anything, that’s still lower than the typical speed limit in Europe. 100MPH would be a better suited speed limit in Texas. For instance, a lot of people go from Houston to Austin or Dallas or San Antonio rather frequently, including myself. These trips take roughly 3h or more. At 100MPH, the travel time would be about 1h less and less tired drivers is safer”

3 hours at 85MPH would take you 255 miles. At 100MPH it would take just over 2 1/2 hours - nowhere near 1h less. You would have to go over 127MPH to save 1h. I agree with Rothbard, 100 mph is more taxing mentally.

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